A/HRC/46/51
in any negotiations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to reach a lasting,
sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.
F.
Jubilee Campaign observed that few to no improvements have been made, particularly
in regards to women’s rights and protection mechanisms. Concerns include ill treatment,
forced abortion and hard labour of repatriated women, and domestic and sexual violence
in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, forced marriage and sexual exploitation
of trafficked women and girls in China, and hardships in the Republic of Korea after
resettlement such as stigma, economic disadvantages, and exploitation.
Justice for North Korea stated that the UN's work on accountability is a cause for hope
to advance the North Korean human rights movement as it promotes trust among
witnesses to share their information, and brings media attention to the issue. It expressed
concerns regarding the approach of the Government of the Republic of Korea on human
rights issues and stressed the continued importance of international awareness-raising
and advocacy.
Korea Future Initiative outlined the experiences of victims as well as the identification
of numerous perpetrators, including State officials, with respect to violations of freedom
of religion committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It called for
capacity-building among civil society actors and for targeted individual sanctions against
perpetrators, considering that referral to the International Criminal Court or the creation
of an ad hoc mechanism seems unlikely.
Open North Korea noted a lack of progress on accountability, but observed that the
presence of the OHCHR Office in Seoul had raised awareness, helped develop the
capacity of civil society, and allowed the collection of additional information not covered
by the commission of inquiry. It observed the different approaches to human rights in
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea across the political spectrum within the
Republic of Korea and called for a less partisan and more human rights-based approach
to the issue.
Ms. Park Jihyun, a British-North Korean escapee and activist, recommended that the
international community strongly request the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to
allow visits by special rapporteurs and to share information regarding prison camps and
the lives of its people, and punish non-compliance with such a request. People of the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should also be allowed to access information.
She noted that the rights of the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
depend on the political climate and noted the importance of engaging with victims who
can describe their experiences in their own voices. She also noted the importance of
accepting escapees from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as refugees.
People for Successful Corean Reunification (PSCORE) highlighted concerns and
recommendations in the areas of children’s rights, women’s rights, digital rights and
abductions. It recommended that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea allow
third-party experts, specifically UN members, to access the country to evaluate and
report on human rights. It also recommended democratic and rights-based reforms inside
the country and called for the international community to protect escapees as refugees.
Way forward for accountability
27.
The work of civil society organizations and victims’ groups remains important for
accountability and ending impunity for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea. People from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea living in the
Republic of Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other
countries have been actively advocating for justice and accountability for human rights
violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea through publishing reports,
awareness-raising programs, speaking at public events and advocating with governments and
the United Nations. Civil society organizations are active in documentation efforts for future
accountability and memorialization. In addition, civil society organizations are increasingly
contributing information they have gathered to the central evidence and information
repository established and maintained by OHCHR.
11